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Anthony Plog Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell #117

Anthony Plog Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #117 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features  trumpeter and composer Anthony Plog. Listen to or download the episode below:

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Marc Caparone Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell #115

Marc Caparone Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #115 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features jazz trumpeter/cornetist, Marc Caparone. Listen to or download the episode below:

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LA Trumpet Ensemble – The Other Side of the Bell #112

LA Trumpet Ensemble Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #112 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeters Wayne Bergeron and Jeff Bunnell talking about their new album “Homage” by the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About the LA Trumpet Ensemble, Wayne Bergeron and Jeff Bunnell

“Homage” Liner Notes

The recording scene in Los Angeles has a long history of great and highly versatile trumpet playing. For the most part, though, these trumpet players rarely get a chance to be featured. In 1957, Tutti Camarata arranged and produced a record called Tutti’s Trumpets that featured some of the top session trumpet players in Los Angeles at that time. That was over 60 years ago. Wayne Bergeron and I started talking about doing another recording that would feature some of the current session trumpet players here in Los Angeles. Wayne suggested recording a trumpet ensemble CD. I loved the idea and thought a choir of trumpets would work well. With that, the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble came into being.

In choosing the music I arranged for this CD, I wanted to pay tribute to some of the film composers who are part of the Los Angeles recording scene (and who write so well for the trumpet), and also pay tribute to some of the great trumpet players of the past and present.

Thanks to:

All the members of the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble, whose world class trumpet playing breathed life into the black dots on the pages that I gave them, and elevated the music on this CD to such a high level. Bravo!

Andrew, Abe, Chad and Chris for their stellar playing on Roof Garden.

Dan Savant for contributing his seasoned producing skills to this CD, and for all the encouragement he has given me over the years.

Michael Aarvold for his great engineering, mixing and mastering work.

Joe Meyer for his help with the CD design concepts.

A big thanks to Jerry Hey for writing the perfect closer to this CD and for lending his exceptional producing talents to that session. A huge thanks to Wayne Bergeron, whose outstanding playing, engineering and producing chops were invaluable to this project! A very special thanks to my beautiful wife Becky for her encouragement and support of this project, and for putting up with the rehearsals in our living room.

 

 

Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances, and clinics keep him busy not only in his hometown of Los Angeles but worldwide.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1958, Bergeron came to California at age one. He originally started on French horn but switched to trumpet in seventh grade where he found a natural upper register ability. Bergeron credits his junior high and high school teachers, Ron Savitt and Bob Smith, for molding his talent into practical working skills.

Bergeron first caught the ear of many when he landed the lead trumpet chair with Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1986. Bergeron can be heard on Maynard’s recordings of Body and Soul, Big Bop Nouveau, Brass Attitude, and The One and Only Maynard Ferguson.  Bergeron demonstrates daily why Maynard remarked, “Wayne is the most musical lead trumpet player I’ve had on my band.”

As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of recording credits reads like a “who’s who” in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other names include Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Indina Menzel, Leslie Oden Jr., Herb Alpert, The Jonas Brothers, Burt Bacharach, The Dirty Loops, Seth MacFarlane, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Christina Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, Michael Bolton, Earth Wind & Fire, The Pussy Cat Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Mars Volta, Chicago, Rosemary Cloony, Diane Schuur, Barry Manilow, Lee Ann Womack, Lou Rawls, Eric Marienthal, Kenny G., and David Benoit.

Bergeron has worked on over 500 TV & motion picture soundtracks. A partial list of film credits includes Red Notice, Turning Red, Soul, Bob’s Burgers, Ford vs. Ferrari, Toy Story 4, Frozen 1 & 2, The Lion King (2019), The Secret Life of Pets, Wreck it Ralph 2, Crazy Rich Asians, Sing 1&2, Moana, Frozen 1 & 2, Get On Up, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, High School Musical 3, Get Smart, Superman Returns, The Simpson’s Movie, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Mission Impossible 3, Ice Age 2, Spiderman 1 & 2, Team America and South Park.

Bergeron’s featured trumpet solos can be heard on the motion pictures West Side Story (2021 Steven Spielberg), La La Land, Sing, The Incredibles 1 & 2, Rocky Balboa, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Rough Night, Jazzman’s Blues, Vacation Friends, Ted 2, Minions, Minions 2:The Rise of Gru, Spies in Disguise, Jersey Boys, The Green Hornet, The Interview, Despicable Me 1, 2 & 3, Duplicity, Princess & the Frog, The Perfect Game,, Hey Arnold (the movie), The Rat Pack, Child Star, Aladdin King of Thieves and High Crimes and  many others.

Numerous TV credits include Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, NBC, ESPN & TNT sports themes, American Idol (2001-02), Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Animaniacs Reboot, Family Guy, American Dad, Simpson’s, Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, The Cleveland Show, Green Eggs and Ham,  Jeopardy, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Will and Grace, Phineas & Ferb, Emperor’s New School, Mouse Works, Have a Laugh, House of Mouse, King of the Hill, Futurama, Buzz Lightyear, Hercules, and Hey Arnold.

Bergeron’s greatest love is playing lead in big bands. He has recorded and played with some of Los Angeles’ most respected bands including Gordon Goodwin, Arturo Sandoval, Pat Williams, Sammy Nestico, Jack Sheldon, Chris Walden, Tom Kubis, John La Barbara, Bob Florence, Joey Sellers, Ray Anthony, Bill Watrous, Bob Curnow, and Quincy Jones.

After being behind the scene for so many years, Bergeron stepped out on his own with his first solo effort, You Call This a Living?  This debut project earned him a Grammy nomination in 2004 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, as well as rave reviews from fans and press worldwide. Bergeron’s second CD, Plays Well With Others, released on the Concord Jazz label in 2007, was met with the same acclaim. Bergeron’s most current (and personal favorite) CD, Full Circle, was released in January of 2016.

Bergeron performs various events for the Hollywood Bowl summer season. He has done guest appearances with the L.A. Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Taiwan Symphony, and Tokyo Philharmonic.

Bergeron is a National Artist for the Yamaha Corporation of America and is co-designer of the YTR-8335LA trumpet and YFH-8315G Flugelhorn. Bergeron also designed a series of trumpet mouthpieces with Gary Radtke of GR Technologies that are available through Bergeron’s website.

Bergeron was mentored by legends Uan Rasey, Bobby Shew, Warren Luening, Gary Grant, Rick Baptist, and George Graham. Bergeron hopes to inspire a new generation of young players and enjoys his work as a clinician and educator. “Nothing makes me feel more accomplished than hearing a young musician say that I inspired them or had a positive influence on their life. For me, that’s the real payday.” Bergeron is currently on faculty at California State University Northridge.

Perhaps Grammy winning composer and bandleader, Gordon Goodwin said it best, “Wayne is a once in a lifetime lead trumpet player.”

 

Trumpeter Jeff Bunnell has enjoyed a successful career in many musically diverse settings. He is an active member of the Los Angeles freelance performing and recording community, and has been for over four decades.

The many artists Jeff has worked and recorded with include Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Natalie Cole, Michel Legrand, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Seth MacFarlane, Rosemary Clooney, Paul Anka, Lou Rawls, Barry Manilow, Dianna Krall, Frank Sinatra Jr., David Sanborn, Diane Schuur, Brian Wilson, Tom Harrell, Steve Lawrence, Maroon 5, Michael Feinstein, Debby Boone, Andy Williams, Patti Austin, Brian Setzer, Jack Sheldon, Steve Allen, Marilyn McCoo, Engelbert Humperdink and Shirley Bassey.

Jeff has toured with Ray Charles, Horace Silver and Poncho Sanchez. He has performed with many of the top big bands in Los Angeles including Tom Kubis, Bill Watrous, Alf Clausen, Johnny Mandel, Bill Holman, Arturo Sandoval, Gordon Goodwin’s Phat Band, Les Hooper, Pete Christlieb, Pat Williams, Wayne Bergeron, Steve Spiegl, Carl Saunders and Bernie Dresel. He has recorded with many of these big bands including Ray Charles, Tom Kubis, Bill Watrous, Les Hooper, Pete Christlieb, Jack Sheldon, Brian Setzer, Wayne Bergeron, Steve Spiegl and Bernie Dresel. Jeff played the lead trumpet chair with the Carl Saunders Big Band, the Pete Christlieb Tall and Smail Band, and the Steve Spiegl Big Band. Currently Jeff plays one of the solo chairs with both The Tom Kubis Big Band and Bernie Dresel’s BBB.

Jeff has worked with many of the orchestras in Southern California including The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Long Beach Symphony, The New West Symphony, The Pacific Symphony and The Pasadena Pops Orchestra.

As a session player Jeff has played on hundreds of feature film and television soundtracks. His film credits of note include “Star Trek Beyond”, “Jurassic World”, “The Incredibles”, UP (Oscar winner for Best Soundtrack), and “O.J. Simpson: Made in America” – where Jeff is a featured soloist throughout the film (Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature). His television credits include “Pennyworth”, “The Simpsons”, “Family Guy”, “Why Women Kill”, “American Dad”, “Parks and Recreation”, “Alias”, and “The Clone Wars” animated series. He has also played on hundreds of television and radio commercials, as well as the Academy Awards and the SAG Awards.

As a musical theater pit musician, Jeff has played on more than 60 Broadway shows including “West Side Story”, “Phantom Of The Opera”, “Dream Girls”, “Into the Woods”, “Sophisticated Ladies”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Titanic”.

He has studied trumpet privately with Joe Alessi Sr., Boyde Hood, Bobby Shew, Claude Gordon and Uan Rasey. Jeff is currently a faculty trumpet and jazz instructor at The Master’s University.

Jeff is also a Bach Artist & Clinician.

In addition to playing the trumpet, Jeff also works as an arranger, orchestrator, and conductor. He has orchestrated for film and television, as well as other areas of music such as Broadway Shows, cruise ship music and theme park music.

His original big band charts can be found in the books of Arturo Sandoval, Bill Watrous, Jack Sheldon, Ron Jones, Emil Richards, Steve Spiegl and Bernie Dresel. He has published three transcribed jazz trumpet solo books through Aebersold Jazz.

LA Trumpet Ensemble Links

Other Links Mentioned in this Episode

Join us at Dillon Music, November 9-11 for valve alignments and mouthpiece consultations. Email sales@dillonmusic to schedule an appointment!

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David Washburn Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell #111

David Washburn Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #111 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter David Washburn.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About David Washburn

David Washburn is a Yamaha Performing Artist and serves as Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. A much sought-after musician in Los Angeles, he also holds the position of Associate Principal Trumpet of the LA Opera Orchestra. He has served as principal trumpet and soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

Active in the recording studio, David has numerous motion picture soundtracks to his credit. He has played principal trumpet for Incredibles 2, Coco, A Quiet Place, Spider-Man Homecoming, War for the Planet of the Apes, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Independence Day – Resurgence, Godzilla, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Karate Kid, Avatar, The Legend of Zorro, Troy, A Beautiful Mind, Windtalkers, The Perfect Storm, Titanic and Deep Impact. He has also been part of the John Williams trumpet section for over 20 years and has performed on the soundtracks of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

David is a member of the faculty at Biola University and Azusa Pacific University. He has held teaching positions at the University of California Irvine, Chapman University, California State University Northridge, California State University Long Beach, University of Redlands, Idyllwild Arts Academy and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

David received his Master of Music, with distinction, from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and his Bachelor of Music from the Thornton Music School at the University of Southern California. His trumpet instructors have included Rob Roy McGregor, Robert Nagel, John Clyman and Joan LaRue.

David has been a featured soloist with many different orchestras, including the Los Angeles, St. Louis, Knox-Galesburg, Hong Kong and California Philharmonics; the Los Angeles, San Diego and South Bay Chamber Orchestras; the Berkeley, Burbank and Glendale Symphonies; and the New York String, University of California Irvine and Pasadena Pops Orchestras. He has also been featured with the New York Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center, as well as at the Santa Fe, La Jolla and Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festivals.

In 2018, David performed the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 as well as the Telemann, Albinoni and Haydn Trumpet Concertos with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.

In the summer, David performs at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Orcas Island, WA; Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, CA; Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival in Menlo Park, CA; and the SummerFest Chamber Music Festival in San Diego. David was also part of the inaugural Chamber Music Festival at the Green Music Center in Sonoma, CA performing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in 2015.

When David is not performing, his favorite pastime is boating with his children Timothy, Samantha, Nicholas and Julia.

David Washburn Links

Podcast Credits

Mike Price Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell #110

Mike Price Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #110 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Mike Price.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About Mike Price

Mike Price is a professional trumpet player, formerly living in Tokyo, Japan. He composes and performs with the Mike Price Jazz Quintet or Orchestra. Originally from Chicago Illinois, he was a student of Vincent Cichowicz (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) while getting a degree from Northwestern University. Following 3 more years studying jazz composition at Berklee School of Music , he toured with the Stan Kenton Orchestra followed by touring with Buddy Rich. Mike played 1st trumpet for both bands. (1967- 1970)

Back in Los Angeles in 1972 Mike was an original member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, touring Japan many times before moving to Tokyo in 1989 for an NEA/U.S.- Japan Friendship Commission Artist exchange program grant. After conclusion of the grant period, he joined the Sharps & Flats Orchestra led by Nobuo Hara, staying with this band until the leader’s retirement. During this time, Mike formed a jazz quintet in 1993 and a big band in 1999, both becoming active participants in the Tokyo jazz scene. The big band had its first concert to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth with a rare performance of the “Such Sweet Thunder Suite,” alternatively known as the “Shakespearian Suite.” The orchestra’s activities continued with new projects such as the Miles Davis/Gil Evans “Miles Ahead,” “Porgy & Bess Suite,” “Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” “Tribute to Buddy Rich,” Ellington’s “Far East Suite,” “ A Tribute to Gerald Wilson,”

with whom Mike worked in Los Angeles before going to Japan.

During the early 2000’s, Mike was introduced to Detroit jazz singer, Harvey Thompson, with whom a collaboration began. Many performances followed with Harvey being featured with both Mike’s quintet and big band.

In 2011 Mike recorded a CD with his Tokyo Quintet with all original compositions. “Presenting the Mike Price Jazz Quintet In Tokyo.”

Twenty five years after arriving in Japan, after Hara san’s retirement, Mike has returned to home ground in Los Angeles forming the American version of his quintet and orchestra with some of LA’s top jazz musicians.

Throughout his performing career, Mike has a parallel commitment to teaching. Before going to Japan, he graduated with a Master’s Degree from University of Southern California with the help of a teaching assistantship in Jazz Studies. Shortly afterwards he received a California Community College Instructor Credential. There have been many private students in addition to band clinics and performances for high schools, universities, and community bands oth before and while living in Japan. Notable in this was an 18 year contract with Hamamatsu Public Schools to teach elementary, middle school, and high school students brass instrument instruction and fundamentals of jazz ensemble performance. Also, there was a 9 year contract to teach beginning trumpet classes at the elementary level and private lessons through high school to students at St. Maur International School in Yokohama, Japan.

Mike Price Links

Other Links Discussed

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Bill Bing Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell #109

Bill Bing Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #109 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Bill Bing.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About Bill Bing

William Bing has recently retired as Director of Bands and Artist in Residence at the California Institute of Technology. During that time, he conducted over 250 concerts with the Caltech Jazz and Concert Band.    He also served on the undergraduate admissions committee and was named an outstanding teacher by the students from Caltech   Bill and his wife Delores have won many teaching awards including the Associated Students of Caltech Teaching Award, Pasadena Youth Music Council Teacher of the Year, and most recently Honorary Membership in the Caltech Alumni Association.  For ten years he was a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and for five years he was a performer with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He has published two method books for trumpet.   Students that have studied with Bill have played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Reel Big Fish, Poncho Sanchez, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and many other classical, rock, and jazz ensembles. His clinics and concerts  have received rave reviews by other band directors from junior high school through the college level.  For his clinic, Bill emphasizes sound, and from there, balance, intonation, and style.  

Bill Bing Links

Other Links Discussed

Podcast Credits

Chris O’Hara Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell #108

Chris O’Hara Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #108 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Chris O’Hara.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About Chris O’Hara

Chris O’Hara is an internationally renowned trumpet soloist, a chamber musician, and educator.  His playing is described as “virtuosic and impressive in every way” (Chicago Music Examiner), and “a treat beyond measure” (Arlington Advocate), and the International Trumpet Guild Journal hails him as a “true master of [the] instrument.” Already in his young career, Chris has performed over 3,000 featured artist events covering 48 states and 12 countries across North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Asia.  His performance schedule has taken him to notable venues such as the Italian Brass Week, Ravinia Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Norfolk Music Festival, the Festival de Camara de Musica in Aquacalientes Mexico, the Nagoya Conservatory of Music, the Newport Music Festival and Millennium Hall in Japan. Chris currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Elmhurst University and Concordia University.

Chris is a clinician for Conn-Selmer Company and Denis Wick and has presented countless master classes and clinics at public schools and the world’s finest colleges and universities.  He can be heard on recordings on the Paraclete and AAR labels.  His latest  releases, johann sebastian BACH with organist Mark Engelhardt, On Tour, Vol. 1 with the Alliance Brass, and the award-winning Now, O Now with the Illumine Trio can be found on the Rowjack label.  His performances have also been broadcast on NPR, NBC, WGN, the Hallmark Channel, and more. Chris serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Elmhurst University.

Chris O’Hara Links

Podcast Credits

Courtney Jones Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell Episode #107

Courtney Jones – Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #107 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Courtney Jones.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About Courtney

 

 

Courtney Jones Links

Other Links Discussed In This Podcast

Podcast Credits

Marissa Benedict Trumpet Interview – The Other Side of the Bell Episode #106

Marissa Benedict – Trumpet Interview

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #105 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Marissa Benedict.

Listen to or download the episode below:

About Marissa Benedict

Marissa Benedict was born in San Francisco, California and raised in Marin County where she started playing piano at age 7, violin at age 9 and trumpet at age 10 (studying with Joe Alessi, Sr.). She continued playing all three instruments until graduating from high school and moving to Los Angeles to attend USC, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance (June 1984), studying with Boyde Hood.

Marissa is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Before leaving for Minnesota she was a freelance trumpet player in Los Angeles for 34 years. She is currently principal trumpet for The Pasadena Symphony/Pasadena Pops and plays regularly with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Master Chorale. Marissa recently performed and recorded Mahler’s 8th symphony in the Minnesota Orchestra’s Mahler Project, played for Charles Lazarus’ CD Merrier and Brighter (2022), Jack Stamp’s Chamber Music Volume 1 (released July 2023), and the Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble’s Homage (release: August 2023), featuring eight of the top trumpeters in Southern California. She also toured with the L.A. Philharmonic on their “Boston to London” 2018 tour, and on 2019 tours to Asia and Scotland. She played for the 2019 Academy Awards (Oscars®) and recorded Celebrating John Williams with the L.A. Phil under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.

A very active and in-demand studio player, she can be heard on nearly 160 motion picture recordings, including Spider-Man No Way Home, Avatar 2: The Way of the Water, Lightyear, Incredibles II, Spider-Man Far from Home, Coco, Moana, Rogue One, Spider-Man, Homecoming, Indiana Jones IV, Avatar, The Polar Express, Spider-Man 2, Monsters, Inc., and War of the Worlds. Her television studio recording credits include Star Trek : Discovery, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Voyager and Deep Space Nine, JAG, Commander in Chief and Galavant.

Marissa’s current trumpet studio consists of 16 trumpet students (Undergraduate, Master’s degree and Doctoral of Musical Arts), ranging from Bachelor of Arts, Music Ed, Music Performance, double majors of Computer Science/Performance and MuEd/Performance. All of her graduated MuEd and Performance majors are currently teaching music and/or performing in the Minneapolis area. She continues to recruit and give masterclasses and special guest performances throughout the Twin Cities and across the US and remains very active in the community.

Marissa Benedict Links

Podcast Credits